House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 12 May 1660

Saturday, 12th May, 1660.

Prayers.

Assessment.

THE House, this Day, proceeded in reading the Names of Commissioners for the Assessment of Seventy thousand Pounds by the Month, for Three Months (reported as Amendments) the Second time; which, being read, were agreed unto.

Resolved, That the Day for paying in the Three Months Assessments to the Receiver General be so timely, as the whole Sum may be paid in to the Receiver General, at or before the first Day of August next.

Resolved, That this Bill, thus amended, be ingrossed.

Debts owing to the Public.

Mr. Pryn acquaints the House, that there is an Offer made of a Discovery of Two hundred thousand Pounds, due to, and concealed from, the Commonwealth.

Ordered, That Mr. Pryn, Alderman Frederick, Alderman Robinson, Mr. Rich, Col. Gorges, Mr. Spry, Mr. Jolliffe, Col. Bowyer, Major General Browne, or any Three of them, be a Committee to receive and examine the said Discovery: And they are to meet this Afternoon in the Inner Court of Wards; and to adjourn from Time to Time, and Place and Place, as they shall see Cause: And they have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Witnesses, and what else may conduce to this Business.

Assessments.

Ordered, That it be referred to Mr. Annesley, Serj. Maynard, Mr. Pryn, Serj. Glyn, and Mr. Turner, forthwith to withdraw, and prepare the Draught of an Order for quickening the Commissioners for the monthly Assessments, to proceed effectually for the getting in of the Monies due and unpaid, upon the Act for Six Months Assessments, commencing from the Twenty-fifth of December last; and to report it to the House.

Affairs of Ireland.

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. Glascock and Mr. Giles, Masters of the Chancery;

Mr. Speaker, Upon the Address made to the Lords from the Commissioners for the Kingdom of Ireland, their Lordships have passed this Order, wherein they desire the Concurrence of this House;-and therewith delivered in the Order, made by the Lords; which Order was read, and was in these Words; viz.

Upon the humble Address of the Commissioners, employed from the Kingdom of Ireland, shewing, that in regard his Majesty's Letters, and Declarations to both Houses of Parliament, do not at all mention Ireland, or any the Concernments of that Kingdom; which, by reason of the said Consequences of the late bloody Rebellion there, hath been cast into great Disorder and Confusion, and so doth necessarily require speedy and healing Provisions and Remedies; and therefore desiring the Assistance and Concurrence of the Houses to his Majesty, for the Calling and Holding of a Parliament there, as formerly, for Remedy of the unsettled Condition of that Kingdom: It is Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, that it be offered and presented, and it is hereby offered and presented, as the Advice and Desire of the Parliament that his Majesty may be graciously pleased, upon the Repair of Commissioners to him from that Kingdom, with all convenient Speed to call a Parliament in Ireland, to consist of Protestant Peers and Commons, as being the most visible Means for the regulating and settling of the respective Interests in that unsettled Kingdom.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concur with the Lords in this Order.

The Messengers being again called in, Mr. Speaker gave them this Answer;

Gentlemen, The House have considered of the Order you brought from the Lords; and they do concur with the Lords therein.

Pardon and Oblivion.

An Act of General Pardon, Indemnity, and Oblivion, was this Day read the Second time.

Some Votes in the Journal of the Twelfth of December 1650, concerning the Trial of the late King, were read.

A Journal, intituled, A Journal of the Proceedings of the High Court of Justice, erected by Act of the Commons of England, intituled, An Act of the Commons assembled in Parliament, for erecting of a High Court of Justice, for the Trying and Judging of Charles Stewart, King of England, was read.

Divers Members of this House, now present, who were named Commissioners in the said Act, did severally express, how far they were concerned in the said Proceedings, and their Sense thereupon.

Exceptions to a Member's Words.

Some Exception was taken to some Words spoken by Mr. Lenthall, a Member of this House, in the Debate of the Bill of General Pardon, to the Effect following; viz. "He that first drew his Sword against the King, committed as high an Offence, as he that cut off the King's Head:"

Mr. Lenthall, standing up in his Place, explained himself; and withdrew.

The Question being propounded, That Mr. Lenthall be called to the Bar; and there receive the Reprehention of this House;

And the Question being put, That this Question be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put; it was

Resolved, That Mr. Lenthall be called to the Bar; and there receive the Reprehension of the House.

The Serjeant, with his Mace, went to Mr. Lenthall, who was withdrawn into the Speaker's Chamber, and brought him to the Bar of this House; who there kneeling, Mr. Speaker bid him rise; and alte; according to the Order of the House, gave him a sharp Reprehension, to the Effect following:

Mr. Lenthall, The House hath taken very great Offence at some Words you have let fall, upon Debate of this Business, of the Bill of Indemnity; which, in the Judgment of this House, hath as high a Reflection on the Justice and Proceedings of the Lords and Commons in the last Parliament, in their Actings before 1648, as could be expressed. They apprehend there is much of Poison in the Words; and that they were spoken out of Design to set this House on Fire; they tending to render them that drew the Sword to bring Delinquents to condign Punishment, and to vindicate their just Liberties, into Balance with Them, that cut off the King's Head; of which Act they express their Abhorrence and Detestation; appealing to God, and their Conscience bearing them Witness, that they had no Thoughts against his Person, much less against his Life. Therefore I am commanded to let you know, that, had these Words fallen out at any other time, but in this Parliament; or at any Time in this Parliament, but when they had Considerations of Mercy, Pardon, and Indemnity, you might have expected a sharper and severer Sentence than I am now to pronounce: But the Disposition of his Majesty is to Mercy; he hath invited his People to accept it; and it is the Disposition of the Body of this House, to be Healers of Breaches, and to hold forth Mercy to Men of all Conditions, so far as may stand with Justice, and the Justification of themselves before God and Man: I am therefore commanded to let you know, that That being their Disposition, and the present Subject of this Day's Debate being Mercy, you shall therefore taste of Mercy; yet I am to give you a sharp Reprehension; and I do as sharply and severely as I can (for so I am commanded) reprehend you for it.

Resolved, That the Debate of this Bill of General Pardon and Oblivion, be adjourned until Monday Morning next, at Eight of Clock, the first Business.

Wootton Basset Writ.

The House being informed, that the Lord Herbert, being elected to serve as Knight of the Shire for the County of Monmouth, and as a Burgess for the Borough of Wootton Basset in the County of Wiltes, made Choice to serve for the County of Monmouth, and waves his Election for the Borough of Wootton Bassett aforesaid;

Ordered, That a new Writ be issued for the Election of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Wootton Basset aforesaid; and that Mr. Speaker do send his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, for the Issuing of a new Writ for the Election of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the said Borough of Wootton Basset: And the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal, or any Two of them, are hereby required to issue out and pass the same under the Great Seal accordingly.

Message from Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. * and Mr. Harrington, Two of the Masters of Chancery;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords desire your Concurrence to an Order for preventing the demolishing or defacing of, or committing of Wastes in the King's Houses, Woods, and Lands; wherein they desire the Concurrence of this House: And therewith delivered an Order from the Lords; which Order was read.

Ordered, That this Order be referred to the Committee to whom it is referred to consider of a Revenue to be settled on the King's Majesty; to consider of it, and report their Opinion therein to this House.

The Messengers were again called in; and Mr. Speaker gave them this Answer;

Gentlemen, The House hath considered of the Order that you have brought from the Lords; and they will return you Answer by Messengers of their own.

Confirming Sales, &c.

Ordered, That the Bills for Confirmation of Sales; and touching Religion; be proceeded in by this House, in Course, next after the Bill of General Pardon, Indemnity, and Oblivion.

The House adjourns itself until Monday Morning next, Eight of the Clock.